Simonton Parent Newsletter
Friday, October 16, 2020
Every Student, Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, & Excel!
Message from Ms. Perkins
Students will be released at 12:15 pm on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 and Thursday, October 22, 2020. Please be sure arrangements are made for students to be picked up on time and that someone is at the bus stop to greet students. Send a signed note to school if your child needs to go home a different way. The Simonton ES Afternoon Transportation form is on the school website if you need a copy. Due to the change in schedule curbside lunch pickup will be 10:00 - 11:45 am.
This Wednesday our students participated in our first hard lockdown drill for the school year. I am so proud of how quickly they moved into their safety positions. We will continue to hold drills throughout the school year (fire, severe weather, etc..) to prepare our students for how to keep themselves safe while here at school.
Enjoy the fall weather and have a great weekend!
Scholastic Book Fair
October 19- 23
In-Person and Virtual
Early Release
October 21ST & 22ND
Students will be dismissed at 12:15 pm.
Conference Week
October 18th-23rd
Please sign-up if you have not already done so!
2nd Semester Options sent out by GCPS:
Beginning October 28, Gwinnett parents and guardians will make a decision about how their children will learn during second semester. Like this semester, families may select either in-person instruction at their child’s school or digital learning at home. As students and families are more familiar with these two options and what they entail, the decisions families make will be for the entire semester.
The Spring Instructional Preference Questionnaire will be available in your Parent Portal account October 28 through 11:59 p.m. on November 15.
If you do not have a parent portal account, please go to the school district website for information or contact your local school to request one.
We will remind you on October 28 that the window for making your family’s decision regarding second semester is open.
Student Engagement Survey ~ via ZOOM
Please see the schedule below for the day and time that these sessions will be held...
Monday, October 19th- 8:45 am
Tuesday, October 20th- 11:30 am
**Zoom link was emailed out by Mrs. Flemish this past Thursday.
A Glance Ahead:
Monday, October 19
- Great Days of Service
- Book Fair Open
- Great Days of Service
- Book Fair Open
- Boy Scout Meeting ~ 6:00-7:00 pm
Wednesday, October 21
- Great Days of Service
- Book Fair Open
- Curbside Lunch Pickup 10:00 - 11:45 am
- Early Release ~ 12:15 pm
Thursday, October 22
- Great Days of Service
- Book Fair Open
- Curbside Lunch Pickup 10:00 - 11:45 am
- Early Release ~ 12:15 pm
Friday, October 23
- Great Days of Service
- Book Fair Open
- Picture Make-up Day
Monday, October 26th- Friday, October 30th
- Red Ribbon Week
You Scream, I Scream... We all Scream for Ice Cream!!
Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Student Council Members!
President- Leilany A.
Vice President- Andrea M.
5th Grade Class Reps
· S. Lewis- Stojan G.
· Colcough- Deanna A.
· Sherrer- Nylah R.
4th Grade Class Reps
· Bryant- Jenell R.
· Stephens- Stephanie B.
· Tobin- Savannah E.
Free & Reduced Lunch Applications
The application for free and reduced lunch is still available. Gwinnett County Public Schools encourages families who are eligible for the Free & Reduced Meal Program to complete the annual application.
If you received this service last year, and you feel you still qualify, you must complete an application again this year. ALL STUDENTS CAN SIGN UP TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY!!
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=78f8fee54716f21218e523747d37a13c
Frequently Asked Questions about free and reduced lunch
Cub Scouts
The sign-up for boys and girls in the K – 1st grades will be this Tuesday night
October 20th 7:00 PM
in the
Simonton Elementary School Cafeteria.
AKS at Home
As part of Gwinnett County Public Schools’ family engagement initiative, the school district seeks to empower parents with tools that allow them to help their children at home. Our AKS at Home project provides math and language arts resources to support families so that they truly are partners in their children’s learning. This support is available for families to access in the format that fits them and their schedule best. They can attend live virtual meetings, view recorded information at a time that best fits their schedule, or gain tips and suggestions on how to best help their students through tip sheets on a wide variety of topics.
The following link will take you to the GCPS website: https://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/myhome/public/parents/content/general-info/aks-at-home/aks-at-home
School of Arts @ Central Gwinnett HS
Current 8th & 9th graders are invited to attend information sessions about the School of the Arts @ Central Gwinnett High School (SOTA), opening in Aug. of 2021. At SOTA, students from across the district can pursue their artistic vision and learn from industry professionals. Remaining info sessions will be held Oct. 17 and 24.
Click on the link below for more information
EDUCATIONAL SPECIAL PURPOSE LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX (E-SPLOST)
On November 3, 2020, Gwinnett voters will be asked to consider continuing the E-SPLOST (education special purpose local option sales tax). Over the years, Gwinnett students and school communities have benefited from the E-SPLOST which has provided thousands of classrooms as well as technology improvements.
Click on the link below to learn more about E-SPLOST
Federal Programs Family-School Partnership Advisory Council Meeting
Our county PAC has a new name and a new location for 2020-2021! Please join us on Zoom for the fall Federal Programs Family-School Partnership Advisory Council. This meeting is a great opportunity for all Federal Programs to meet with our stakeholders to receive input from them which will help us continue to improve our programs.
Thank you for supporting Gwinnett County as we strengthen our partnership between our families and our schools.
Digital Citizenship Week
October 19-24th
As technology becomes more ingrained in our lives and in school, BrainPOP offers topics to help students learn to be careful, considerate, and aware digital citizens. Explore our collection of digital citizenship resources for movies, activities, and games.
Weekly Family Engagement Tips
Whether you meet online or in person, having a conference with the teacher is an important way to help your child learn. Before your conference, talk with your child about subjects he likes best and least and why. Ask if he has any concerns. To make sure you and the teacher discuss these and other things that matter most, make a list. Include changes at home and questions about your child's progress and how you can help. http://niswc.com/16jLC326428
Make it clear that schoolwork is worth the effort
Parents know that getting their children to do their best on schoolwork is often a tough task. To motivate your child, treat school as her job. Set time aside to talk about it (and listen!) every day. Help your child see that her effort affects her results. For example, ask, "Do you think this is a grade you deserve? Why or why not?" Then discuss things she did that worked, and what she could do differently. http://niswc.com/16jMC326428
Early Voting
Early voting takes place October 12, 2020 through October 30, 2020.
The general election is November 3, 2020.
For more information click on the link below.
https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/departments/elections
Simonton Elementary ~ What We Stand For
Vision
Simonton is committed to dynamic high quality instruction resulting in a passion for learning, leading and excelling.
Core Belief
Every Student Every Day, Deserves to Learn, Lead, and Excel
Commitments
We commit to giving our students a fresh start every day.
We commit to preparing quality and engaging lessons that will prepare our students to be successful in school.
We commit to teaching, modeling and holding our students accountable for appropriate school behavior.
We commit to providing our students with a structured and safe learning environment.
We commit to a great year of learning, leading, and excelling
Simonton Elementary
Superintendent- Mr. J. Alvin Wilbanks
Assistant Superintendent- Dr. Terry Watlington
Board Member- Mr. Steven B. Knudsen
Principal- Tamara G. Perkins
Assistant Principal- Daphne Miles
Assistant Principal- Nicole Tomlinson
Assistant Principal- Emily Young
Website: gcpsk12.org/SimontonES
Location: 275 Simonton Road Southeast, Lawrenceville, GA, USA
Phone: (770) 513-6637